KAJN Jesus FM 102.9


10-25-18

LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX SAYS HE IS OPEN TO NEGOTIATING WITH OTHER COMPANIES TO TAKE OVER MANAGEMENT OF LAFAYETTE UTILITIES SYSTEM.  ROBIDEAUX ADMITTED TO THE ADVOCATE HE MADE MISTAKES IN NEGOTIATING SECRETLY WITH ONE COMPANY, BERNHARD CAPITAL PARTNERS, WHICH HAS PROPOSED A FORTY YEAR MANAGEMENT CONTRACT.  THE PROPOSAL PROMPTED LETTERS FROM CLECO AND ENTERGY, WHO WANTED TO MAKE THEIR OWN MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT PROPOSALS.  ROBIDEAUX SAYS HE WANTS TO PUSH THE RESET BUTTON AND START THE CONVERSATIONS OVER, AND, IF THERE’S ENOUGH INTEREST, ISSUE A FORMAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.

 

A LAKE CHARLES WOMAN WAS KILLED IN A HEAD ON CRASH ON HIGHWAY 171 EAST OF DERIDDER.  JAMES AND CONNIE MOODY, WHO ARE BOTH 68, WERE TRAVELING IN A TOYOTA PRIUS NORTH OF L-A 26, WHEN A PICKUP TRUCK DRIVEN BY 57-YEAR-OLD RHONDA COOLEY OF DERIDDER CROSSED THE MEDIAN INTO THE PATH OF THE PRIUS.  CONNIE MOODY WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE, WHILE JAMES MOODY WAS UNINJURED.  COOLEY, WHO SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, WAS CITED FOR CARELESS OPERATION.

 

CROWLEY POLICE ARRESTED 26-YEAR-OLD CHRISTOPHER BEVERLY IN CONNECTION TO A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED EARLY TUESDAY MORNING.  JEFF HORCHAK REPORTS.

 

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One of two licensed marijuana growers in Louisiana says patients might have to wait two months later than hoped for medical pot products to be available at dispensaries across the state.  John Davis, GB Sciences Louisiana president, which was hired by Louisiana State University as a sanctioned grower, tells news outlets it’s anticipated that products won’t be available until January, with the state Department of Agriculture and Forestry having to take on product testing following an unsuccessful effort to find an independent lab to do it.  Department spokeswoman Veronica Mosgrove says regulators will test for pesticides, contaminants and heavy metals and it’ll take roughly six weeks to get results back to GB Sciences. She says the department will still receive proposals due today to identify an in-state independent testing facility.

 

LAFAYETTE PARISH WILL TAKE OVER THE CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE OF THE SECTION OF THE ANSELM COULEE WHICH IS IN THE YOUNGSVILLE CITY LIMITS.  YOUNGSVILLE MAYOR KEN RITTER HAD REFUSED TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT IN WHICH YOUNGSVILLE WOULD HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT SECTION.  HE SAYS A STATE LAW PUTS THE RESPONSIBILITY ONTO THE PARISHES FOR DRAINAGE, AND WHEN HE POINTED IT OUT TO LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX, HE AGREED.  YESTERDAY, ROBIDEAUX AND RITTER SIGNED AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT AUTHORIZING THE PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD.

 

A THIRD PERSON HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN THE MURDER OF 33-YEAR-OLD DEVIN MARC SANDERS OF TOPSY, WHO WAS FOUND DEAD IN HIS YARD ON AUGUST TENTH.  ON TUESDAY, 33-YEAR-OLD COREY JAMES LAPOINTE OF RAGLEY WAS APPREHENDED IN ALLEN PARISH AFTER HE RAN ON FOOT FROM A TRAFFIC STOP.  LAPOINTE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT TO FIRST DEGREE MURDER AND SIMPLE BATTERY.  DAVID WADE CLARK WAS ARRESTED A WEEK AFTER SANDERS DEATH ON FIRST DEGREE MURDER, WHILE MICHAEL CASTILLE WAS ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY HELPING CLARK EVADE CAPTURE, AND OFFICIALS SAY MORE ARRESTS ARE EXPECTED.

 

An employee at a Louisiana prison is in custody after allegedly conspiring to smuggle contraband into the facility.  The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections says an investigation found that an inmate at Dixon Correctional Institute paid 23-year-old Kelvin Smith, of Opelousas, to smuggle various banned items into the prison.  Officials say Smith admitted to taking money to smuggle in cigarette lighters and tobacco.  Smith, who faces one count of malfeasance in office, had been employed at DCI since July 16.

 

Louisiana’s top higher education board is asking the governor and lawmakers for a $172 million increase for public colleges next year, after absorbing years of cuts and receiving flat funding this year.  The Board of Regents approved the request Wednesday, which would bump up general state funds for higher education to $1.2 billion in the fiscal year that begins July 1.  Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed says the boosted financing would help students afford college and improve achievement.  Under the proposal, money would be directed to need-based assistance, faculty pay raises, e-textbooks and increased use of the TOPS tuition program.